For a good part of the first quarter of last season, it seemed as though the future of the Philadelphia Flyers was still somewhere off in the distance. A rebuild with an emphasis on the build part under rookie head coach Dave Hakstol seemed to be about as good as it was going to get for Flyers fans.But a funny thing happened to all of those dire predictions of being a lottery team: The Flyers scratched and clawed their way into a most unlikely of playoff berths and then managed somehow to stretch the powerful Washington Capitals to six games in the first round.Theres already healthy skepticism that last season was a blip on the rebuilding radar and the Flyers will be back outside the playoff bubble. But Im not so sure, especially watching rookie of the year nominee Shayne Gostisbehere playing so well at the World Cup of Hockey and veteran Mark Streit helping Team Europe to an unexpected berth in the tournament finals.Certainly GM Ron Hextall isnt letting the players feel its a given theyll get back to where they were last season. Essentially were starting fresh here, Hextall said in a recent interview.Best new facesA tinkering summer for Hextall brought in a couple of veterans to help augment the youth movement that is fully in place in Philadelphia. Veteran center and defensive specialist Boyd Gordon will be looking for fourth-line minutes, while Dale Weise will be expected to be a kind of everyman, even bringing unexpected offensive upside. Ivan Provorov is another young defenseman with a big top-end skill set. The left-handed seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft is just 19, and at one point during training camp was paired with Gostisbehere. A glimpse of the future or is the future here?Biggest unknownsCan the Flyers continue their upward arc in terms of evolution while weve seen so many teams (the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets come to mind) take one step forward and then regress for a season or two? Specifically, can they find enough offense to help take the pressure off the defense and goaltending? Last season, the Flyers were 22nd in scoring. Only one team with a worse offense made the playoffs (Detroit Red Wings). The penalty kill, tied for 20th, needs to improve.Can the unlikely goaltending tandem of Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth continue to provide the high level of netminding we saw down the stretch and into the playoffs? And who is the No. 1? Neuvirth had an eye-popping .981 save percentage in three starts in the playoffs against the Capitals. Hextall has said hes looking for more from younger players Scott Laughton -- who is expected to miss three to four weeks with a lower-body injury -- Jordan Weal and Nick Cousins, who all have strong pedigrees but need to prove they are NHL-ready. And NHLers in the fold need to give more, such as Jakub Voracek, who struggled for much of last season after signing a monster contract extension last summer.Sure thingsNot sure how Dave Hakstol didnt end up on the ballot for coach of the year, but thats a moot point. What isnt moot is that Hakstol, who came to the NHL after a long, successful stint with the University of North Dakota, should be even better in his sophomore season in terms of how to schedule practices and his familiarity with his own group and with the opposition. He showed he was a quick study a season ago and his skill set behind the bench should be even more evident this season.Up front, you have to figure captain Claude Giroux is motivated after making Team Canadas World Cup of Hockey roster and then not playing. He rebounded after being left off the 2014 Olympic roster with a place on the Hart Trophy ballot a few months later, so expect a similar response this time around.Is there anyone steadier -- and maybe more underappreciated -- than Wayne Simmonds? Hes coming off a career-best 32-goal campaign and has become one of the on-ice leaders, having averaged a hair less than 30 goals a season over the past three.PredictionThe bottom of the Metropolitan Division is a dogs breakfast. But Im liking what is going on with the Flyers, even if they finish just outside the playoff picture. Fifth in the Metropolitan.Tiger Williams Kings Jersey . 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The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months.PHILADELPHIA -- The Pennsylvania attorney generals office has dismissed its investigation of a fight involving Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy in a Philadelphia nightclub that left two off-duty police officers injured.Solicitor General Bruce Castor said in April that he decided to review the case after getting a request from the president of the police union in Philadelphia. District Attorney Seth Williams had earlier said he wouldnt charge McCoy. He saidd he couldnt prove who initiated the fight.ddddddddddddn a letter to union president John McNesby dated July 7, Castor says he thoroughly reviewed the case and his office wont be taking it over.Police say a fight broke out in February over who had purchased a $350 bottle of Champagne. One officer suffered a broken nose and broken ribs. ' ' '